EP0815398A1

EP0815398A1 - Lighter

Info

Publication number: EP0815398A1
Application number: EP95912505A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Theresia Petronella Maria Zuidinga; Johanna Stephanie Ehrlich; Aloysius Wilhelmus Hendrikus Janssen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-03-21
Filing date: 1995-03-21
Publication date: 1998-01-07
Also published as: AU1962795A; WO1996029547A1

Abstract

A lighter, especially a hand held gas lighter, comprising a lighter body, an ignition part with a grip section, a gas tank with a gas pipe, which gas tank is for containing lighter gas, a gas pipe with an outlet end, a release lever for operating shut-off means in or on the gas pipe of the gas tank and a spring for repositioning the release lever, wherein a funnel is provided containing the gas pipe with the outlet end, which funnel protrudes through a top surface section of the ignition part in case the lighter is in switched on position.

Description

Lighter.

Description

The present invention relates to a lighter, especially a hand held gas lighter, comprising a lighter body, an ignition part with a grip section, a gas tank with a gas pipe, which gas tank is for containing lighter gas, a gas pipe with an outlet end, a release lever for operating shut-off means in or on the gas pipe of the gas tank and a spring for repositioning the release lever.

Hand held gas lighters are well known in the art. They are used widely not only for lighting a cigarette but for several other purposes also. One such other purpose is making light at a pop concert or other such event. Here, generally, two types of effects are aimed for using a lighter. One may like to wave the switched on lighter or to switch on and off the lighter alternately following the rhythm of the music. The first way of doing may cause the human fingers to get burned or the lighter body parts to get burned or even to catch fire. The second way of doing may cause the human fingers to get injured mechanically due to the high frequency and the many times one has to strike the gas release lever of the hand held lighter as to follow the rhythm of the music.

One object of the invention is to provide a lighter which is safe to wave without any risk for the human fingers and the lighter body parts of getting burned during said waving. Another object of the invention is to provide a lighter which will not injure mechanically human fingers due to striking alternately the gas release lever in order to get a flash light effect.

This first object is achieved according to the invention by the lighter being provided with a funnel containing the gas pipe with the outlet end, which funnel protrudes through a top surface section of the ignition part in case the lighter is in switched on position. Preferably, the length of the funnel is sufficient to prevent the flame at the end of the funnel to come close to the thumb - or any other finger - at the grip section pushing the ignition part down, while waving the switched on lighter.

According to another aspect of the invention the top surface of the funnel substantially is flush with the top surface of the ignition part in case the lighter is in switched off position. Than the funnel is safe from getting damaged or damaging clothes, bags or any other object in which the lighter is held out of use. Moreover, an appreciated design is achieved.

According to another aspect of the invention the grip section lies substantially out of plane with and underneath the top surface section of the ignition part. This prevents the funnel to be too long for preventing the flame at the end of the funnel to come close to the thumb or any other finger. The distance from the grip part to the top of the funnel where the flame may occur will be the sum of the distance from the grip part to the top of the ignition part and the length of the funnel protruding through the top surface section of the ignition part.

According to another aspect of the invention the operating lever is attached to the ignition part for easily operating the release lever, and thereby the shut-off means, as to supply the lighter gas from the gas tank to the gas pipe in the funnel, by simply pushing the ignition part downwards into the lighter body.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention a conventional hand held throwaway gas lighter is provided removably within the lighter body, the gas pipe outlet end of this conventional lighter being connected to one end of the gas pipe in the funnel which protrudes through the top surface section of the ignition part, while the operating lever may operate the release lever of this conventional lighter. Now, the lighter according to the invention serves as a kind of case for a conventional lighter providing all the benefits according to the objects of the present invention. Than the lighter according to the present invention will be a refillable lighter wherein the conventional lighter serves as the refillment.

According to another aspect of the invention the funnel may be made of any fire proof material, such as glass. In any case this funnel is mounted to a support means which is attached to the lighter body. It would be very unsafe if the funnel is loose and/or is not connected properly to the gas pipe in the gas tank.

According to another aspect of the invention a piezoelectric igniter is provided. Preferably, an igniter means is provided nearby the outlet end of the gas pipe provided within the funnel. Conventional igniter devices are unwished for the sake of convenience, design and safety of the human fingers not to come close to the place where the flame occurs.

According to another aspect of the invention an igniter housing is provided comprising an upper housing part attached to the ignition part and a lower housing part attached to the lighter body. The piezoelectric igniter is operated by sliding the two housing parts relatively to each other by simply pushing the ignition part downwards into the lighter body.

The other object is achieved according to the invention by providing a flash light device comprising a flash light bulb, a push button and electrical wires. A well known type of flash light device may be used. The user has only to push the button each time he likes a flash at the top of the lighter. Hardly, it will be notified that the flash light is caused by a flash light bulb instead of rapidly igniting and putting out the lighter gas conventionally. The fingers will not be injured mechanically as much as in case of the conventional way of doing.

According to another aspect of the invention the flash light device comprises an electronic circuitry. In this embodiment a special effect of flashing may be achieved. For example, the flash may be made more intense than can be achieved using conventional type of flash light devices. Some type of pattern in switching on and off the flash light bulb may be achieved also. Preferably, the electronic circuitry comprises an accumulator, timer and integrated circuit.

According to another aspect of the invention, the accumulator, for example a penlight-type battery or a button-type battery, is detachably mounted in the lighter body for renewal. Now a refill lighter is achieved rather than a throwaway lighter as far as the flash light device is concerned. Nonetheless, for commercial reasons one may prefer a non- refillable lighter. According to another aspect of the invention the flash light bulb protrudes through the top surface of the ignition part. Preferably, the flash light bulb is positioned nearby the place the flame will occur, as to increase the suggestion the flashing is achieved by the flame being ignited and put out alternately. Preferably, the push button is mounted to one side of the ignition part for convenience of operation by the forefinger. Nonetheless, one may like to position the push button at any other place of the lighter.

According to another aspect of the invention the flash light device will work the flash light bulb once for a predetermined period of time on operating the push button once within a predetermined time interval. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention the flash light bulb is a 3 Volt halogen flash light bulb, while the accumulator is a 6 Volt battery. To prevent failure of the flash light bulb due to this difference in voltages, the timer must limit the period of time the flash light bulb is fed find moreover must determine the period of time the flash light bulb is not fed. The flash of the flash light bulb will be more intense due to that difference in voltages.

The present invention also relates to the flash light device used in the lighter according to the invention. This flash light device for switching on the flash light bulb comprises a flash light bulb, a push button, an accumulator, a timer and an integrated circuit, in order to switch on and off the flash light bulb alternately, for both a predetermined operating and not operating time, each time the push button is operated once within a predetermined time interval. This flash light device is so special because a 3 Volt halogen flash light bulb and a 6

Volt battery will be used according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, to achieve a more intense flash light than will be possible using a conventional flash light bulb or a battery with the same voltage as the flash light bulb. This flash light device may be mounted to or in any object, for example a pencil.

The invention will be further elucidated referring to two embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention in perspective, wherein the lighter is in switched on position;

Figure 2 shows the lighter according to figure 1, but in the switched off position;

Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view of the lighter according to figures 1 and 2. Figure 4 shows schematically the electronic diagram of the flash light device according to the embodiment in figures 1 to 3-

Figure 5 shows a partly sectional side view of a second embodiment of the invention.

In figure 1 a first embodiment of the switched on lighter according to the invention is shown. This hand held gas lighter comprises a lighter body 1, an ignition part 2 with a grip section 3. a funnel 12 protruding through a top surface section 13 of the ignition part 2, a top surface 14 of the funnel 12, a flash light bulb 25 and a push button 26. The grip section 3 lies out of plane with and underneath the top surface section 13 of the ignition part 2. The ignition part 2 is slidably connected with the lighter body 1 for igniting the lighter gas coming out of funnel 12. By pushing the push button 26 once, the flash light bulb 25 will flash once. The flash light may be operated independently of operating the lighter. In figure 2 the lighter according to the invention is shown in the switched off position. The ignition part 2 is kept upwardly by a spring being present within the lighter body 1. The top surface 1 of the funnel

12 is flush with the top surface 13 of the ignition part 2. One may operate the flash light in this position of the lighter.

In figure 3 the lighter of figures 1 and 2 is shown in sectional side view with the ignition part 2 substantially half way its upmost position and its lowermost position relative to the lighter body 1. The lighter comprises a lighter body 1, an ignition part 2 with a grip section 3. a gas tank 4 with a gas pipe 5. which gas tank 4 is for containing lighter gas 6, a gas pipe 7 with an outlet end 8, a release lever 9 for operating shut-off means 10 in or on the gas pipe 5 of the gas tank 4, a spring 11 for repositioning a release lever 9_t a funnel 12 containing the gas pipe 7 with the outlet end 8, which funnels protrudes through the top surface section 13 of the ignition part 2. The funnel 12 is mounted to a support means 19 which is attached to the lighter body 1. The operating lever 15 is attached to the ignition part 2 for operating the release lever 3 , and thereby opening or closing the shut-off means 10, in order to supply the lighter gas 6 from the gas tank 4 to the gas pipe 7. An igniter housing 22 is provided comprising an upper housing part 23 attached to the ignition part 2 and a lower housing part 24 attached to the lighter body 1. Within the igniter housing 22 the piezoelectric igniter 20 is provided. The igniter means 21 is provided nearby the outlet end 8 of the gas pipe 7 which protrudes through the top surface section 13, within the funnel 12.

In all figures 1 to 3 the lighter is provided with a flash light device comprising a flash light bulb 25, a push button 26, an electronic circuitry 27 and electrical wires. The electronic means comprises an accumulator 28, a timer 29 and an integrated circuit 30. The accumulator 28, for example a penlight-type battery or a button-type battery, is detachably mounted to the lighter body 1 for renewal. The flash light bulb 25 protrudes through the top surface 1 of the ignition part 2. The push button 26 is mounted to one side of the ignition part 2.

In figure 4 the electronic diagram of the flash light device according to the embodiment in figures 1 to 3 is shown, comprising a push button 26, an accumulator 28, a timer 29, an integrated circuit 30 and a flash light bulb 25. The integrated circuit 30 and the timer 29 will cause the flash light bulb to work for a predetermined period of time on operating the push button 26 independently of the period of time this b push button 26 is operated. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention the flash light bulb is a 3 Volt halogen flash light bulb, while the accumulator is a 6 Volt button-type battery. The flash light bulb will not fail due to this difference in voltages because the timer 29 limits the period of time the flash light bulb is fed and moreover determines the period of time the flash light bulb is not fed. The flash of the flash light bulb will be more intense due to that difference in voltages. The flash light bulb 25 will be switched on and off alternately for both a predetermined operating and not operating time, each time the push button 26 is operated once within a predetermined time interval.

In figure 5 another embodiment of the invention is shown, comprising a conventional hand held throwaway gas lighter 16 removably within the lighter body 1. The gas pipe outlet end 17 of this conventional lighter 16 is connected with one end of the gas pipe 7 which protrudes through the top surface section 13 of the ignition part 2, within the funnel 12. The operating lever 15, which is now in the form of a cam, is provided to operate the release lever 18 of the conventional lighter 16 on pushing the ignition part 2 downwards.

In all embodiments shown in the figures a clearance between the funnel 12 and the ignition part 2 is provided for achieving thermal insulation. This is important in case the funnel 12 is heated by the flame and shortly after that the funnel 12 is withdrawn into the lighter body, whereby the heat of the funnel 12 could melt a lighter body part and probably cause a fire or an explosion.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Lighter, especially a hand held gas lighter, comprising a lighter body (1), an ignition part (2) with a grip section (3), a gas tank (4) with a gas pipe (5). which gas tank (4) is for containing lighter gas (6), a gas pipe (7) with an outlet end (8), a release lever (9) for operating shut-off means (10) in or on the gas pipe (5) of the gas tank (4) and a spring (11) for repositioning the release lever (9), characterised in that a funnel (12) containing the gas pipe (7) with the outlet end (8) , is provided protruding through a top surface section (13) of the ignition part (2) in case the lighter is in switched on position (figure 1) .

2. Lighter according to claim 1, characterised in that the top surface (14) of the funnel (12) substantially is flush with the top surface (13) of the ignition part (2) in case the lighter is in switched off position (figure 2).

3. Lighter according to any of the claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the grip section (3) lies substantially out of plane with and, underneath the top surface section (13) of the ignition part (2).

4. Lighter according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that an operating lever (15) is attached to the ignition part (2) for operating the release lever (9). and thereby the shut-off means (10), as to supply lighter gas (6) from the gas tank (4) to the gas pipe (7) with the outlet end (8) .

5. Lighter according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the funnel (12) is made of any fire proof material, such as glass.

6. Lighter according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a conventional hand held throwaway gas lighter (16) is provided removably within the lighter body (1), the gas pipe outlet end (17) of this conventional lighter (16) being connected to one end of the gas pipe (7) with the outlet end (8) , which gas pipe (7) protrudes through the top surface section (13) of the ignition part (2), while the operating lever (15) may operate the release lever (18) of the conventional lighter (16) o

(figure 5) .

7. Lighter according to any of the claims 1-5. characterised in that the funnel (12) is mounted to a support means (19) which is attached to the lighter body (1) .

8. Lighter according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a piezoelectric igniter (20) is provided.

9- Lighter according to claim 8, characterised in that an igniter means (21) is provided nearby the outlet end (8) of the gas pipe (7) with the outlet end (8), which gas pipe (7) protrudes through the top surface section (13).

10. Lighter according to claim 9. characterised in that the funnel (12) contains the igniter means (21).

11. Lighter according to any of the claims 8-10, characterised in that an igniter housing (22) is provided comprising an upper housing part (23) attached to the ignition part (2) and a lower housing part (24) attached to the lighter body (1).

12. Lighter according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a flash light device is provided comprising a flash light bulb (25), a push button (26) and electrical wires.

13. Lighter according to claim 12, characterised in that the flash light device comprises an electronic circuitry (27) .

14. Lighter according to claim 13. characterised in that the electronic circuitry comprises an accumulator (28) , a timer (29) and an integrated circuit (30).

15. Lighter according to claim 14, characterised in that the accumulator (28) , for example a penlight-type battery or a button-type battery, is detachably mounted in the lighter body for renewal.

16. Lighter according to any of the claims 12-15, characterised in that the flash light bulb (25) protrudes through the top surface (13) of the ignition part (2) .

17. Lighter according to any of the claims 12-16, characterised in that the push button (26) is mounted to one side of the ignition part (2) .

18. Lighter according to any of the claims 12-17, characterised in that the flash light device will work the flash light bulb (25) once for a predetermined period of time on operating the push button (26) once within a predetermined time interval.

19. Flash light device for switching on and off a flash light bulb, comprising a flash light bulb (25) , a push button (26) and an accumulator (28) characterised in that a timer (29) and an integrated circuit (30) is provided in order to switch on and off the flash light bulb (25) alternately, for both a predetermined operating and not operating time, each time the push button (26) is operated once within a predetermined time interval.